Forest Man

(Introduction by Lars Larsen: In this book from 1849, Universalist minister Erasmus Manford (1815-1884) defends universalism with the Holy Scriptures and with reason. Here is the whole book on Internet Archive, and here is a version of it on Tentmaker.org. This will be a series of about ten blogposts. Here is the third part:)

31. Jesus did not die, or give himself a ransom in vain. “He shall see of the travail of his
soul, and shall be satisfied.” Isa. 53:11.

32. All the ransomed shall be saved. “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isa. 35:10.

33. He is a propitiation for all sin. “And he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” I John 2:2.

34. On Christ was laid the iniquity of us all. “And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity
us all.” Isa. 53:6.

35. He is to take away the sin of the world. “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29.

36. He will draw all to him. “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” John 12:32.

37. All mankind shall serve Christ. “I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son
of man came in the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Dan. 7:13, 14. “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power. For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be ALL IN ALL.” I Cor. 15:24-28.

In Daniel it is said, “dominion and glory and a kingdom” were given to Christ; and Paul informs
us that he will return them to the Father at the resurrection. In Daniel, the objects of those gifts are stated, and Paul tells us that they will be fully effected, that all things, namely, all people, nations and languages shall serve him who, with all things, will be subject to the Father, that God may be all in all. “Praise the Lord, O my soul.”

38. Christ is the Universal Light. “I am the light of the world.” John 8:12. “That was the true light which lightest every man that cometh into the world.” John 21:9. When all shall receive light from the great “sun of righteousness” none will sit “in darkness, an din the region of the shadow of death.” Is it not surprising that notwithstanding these declarations some contend that a large part of mankind will be doomed by the LIGHT of the WORLD to spend eternity in darkness and death!

39. Jesus is the Head of every man. “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” I Cor. 11:3. Christ, then, is the head, and all mankind compose his body. Will Christ’s body be saved or damned? – Go to heaven or be shut up in hell? – Enjoy God’s presence or be consigned to the devil? Reader! Ponder well these questions.

40. Jesus is set forth in the Old Testament “as the Seed of the woman that shall bruise the
serpent’s head – the Shiloh, to whom the gathering of the people should be – the Rock smitten, and the Well of water, as a fountain of life – the Fountain to wash in from sin and uncleanliness – the Sun of Righteousness – the bright and morning Star – the Stone cut from the mountain without hands, that was destined to fill the whole earth – a Shepherd to lead and feed his flock – a Refuge for the weary – an Ensign for the people – a Prophet, King and Governor to instruct and rule them, from sea to sea, and from the rivers to the ends of the earth – the Righteous Branch and the Tree of life, both to heal and nourish the nations – the Messenger and Testator of the Covenant – the Refiner and Purifier – a Feast of fat things for all the people – in short, as the Salvation of God to the ends of the earth.

If these representations exhibit the true character of Messiah, I ask, shall the serpent’s kingdom eternally stand? Shall the people never be gathered to Shiloh? Shall souls forever thirst and never taste of the water of life? Shall sin and uncleanliness never be washed away? Are there millions of souls on whom the Sun of Righteousness, with healing wings, shall never rise nor shine? Shall not the whole earth be filled with the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the sea? Will the Shepherd never feed his flock, nor the weary ever find rest? Will the people never flock to their Ensign, nor the Prophet instruct, nor the King rule over them? Will the nations never be healed? Will the Messenger of the Covenant never come to his temple, nor refine his silver, nor purify the sons of Levi? Shall not all the people partake of the Feast of fat things? And shall not the salvation of God extend to the ends of the earth? Reader, how will you answer these and similar questions?

41. The New Testament exhibits Christ as a universal and complete Savior. He is there represented as the true Light that lightest every man that cometh into the world – the Bread of God, that cometh down from heaven to give light to the world – the Physician to heal the morally diseased – the Author and Finisher of faith, and the Captain of Salvation – the Jesus, or Savior, who should save his people from their sins – the Deliverer who should turn away ungodliness from Jacob – the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world – the Head of every man – the Head of the Church, which is his body, and the fullness of him that filleth all in all – the Heir of all things – the faithful and true Witness – the prevailing Lion of the tribe of Judah – the Door and Shepherd of the sheep, who gave his life for the sheep – the Mediator and Testator of the better covenant – in short, as the complete Savior of the world.

Now, if Christ be the true light that lightest every man that cometh into the world, shall not every man be enlightened? If the Bread of God giveth life to the world, shall not the world have life? If the morally sick are healed, shall they eternally remain diseased? Shall not faith, in the now unbelieving be perfected under such an author and finisher as Christ, and salvation be completed under such a Captain, of whom it is said “he shall not fail nor be discouraged?” If he saves his people from their sins, shall they eternally remain unsaved? If he turns away ungodliness from Jacob, and takes away the sin of the world, shall ungodliness and sin forever hold mankind in endless bondage? Shall the body of Christ eternally remain incomplete, or diseased, or in bondage? Shall the Heir of all things never possess his inheritance? Did the faithful and true witness swear falsely when he declared, “and I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me?” Shall the Lion of the tribe of Judah be defeated and never prevail? Shall the sheep never enter the Door opened for them, nor the Shepherd that died for them, lead them into the green pastures, and by the side of the still waters of God’s love? Shall the Mediator never accomplish the object of his mission, nor see the better covenant fulfilled, nor witness the conferring of the inheritance on those to whom it was bequeathed and attested by his death? In short, if he be the Savior of the world, shall not the world be saved? Can he be in truth styled the Savior of the world if a large portion of the world be eternally lost!

From all these and numerous other descriptions of his advent, character, and the object of his mission, what else can be inferred but that he came for the purpose of effecting the salvation of all men, and was purposely represented as a universal Savior, both in the Old and New Testaments? Can all these representations possibly accord with the idea of his being only a partial Savior or Deliverer of mankind? Surely not. Moreover, the character of Christ, as exhibited in his life, labors and teaching while on earth can never accord with the doctrine of endless misery, nor with any other than that of the salvation of all men.”

42. All things were created for Christ – so saith the Bible. “All things were created by him and for him.” Col. 1:16. But if Partialism is true, a portion of mankind was as surely made for the devil as for Jesus Christ, and in the winding up of human affairs, each party will receive its due – a more God-dishonoring notion, corruption never invented. Was it in view of this end that God in the beginning pronounced man good, VERY GOOD? Was it in view of this end that “the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Job 38:7. The words of Paul seal this famous dogma with eternal condemnation. ALL THINGS were created FOR CHRIST. And will any who belong to Jesus, sin and suffer forever? Will they not all finally partake of the salvation promised in the Gospel? A voice from the cross of Jesus and the throne of God assures us that they will.

43. All things are to be reconciled to God. “And having made peace through the blood of the cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in heaven or things on earth.” Col. 1:20. The phrase “all things,” according to Dr. Hammond and Archbishop Newcome, as well as according to reason and common sense, signifies all intelligent beings, “all mankind.” The plain meaning of this passage then, is, that it is God’s purpose to reconcile all mankind to himself, through the instrumentality of Jesus, whom the Apostle elsewhere terms the Mediator between God and men. Ultimate reconciliation is God's plan.

44. Jesus Christ is the agent of God to accomplish this great work. “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” II Cor. 5:19. God generally works by means. By means of the sun he illumines and warms the atmosphere; by means of the rain, he cools and purifies the same, fertilizes the soil and fills our fountains with living water; so by means of Jesus Christ, he is saving the world. It is God’s purpose to save all by Jesus Christ, and we are informed that God’s pleasure shall prosper in his hand. Isa. 53. He is the medium by which God confers spiritual blessings on mankind.

45. All shall confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God. “Therefore, God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name that at (in) the name of Jesus every knee shall bow of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Phil. 2:9-11. From this and other divine declarations, we learn that God hath highly exalted his Son, far above all principality and power, and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in that which is to come. Ephes. 1:21. But why was he thus exalted? The above passage informs us – that all might submit to his government, and thereby promote the glory of God. He was exalted hen above his brethren to save the human race. And was he thus honored by his God and our God in vain? No, no; all will confess him Lord to the glory of God the Father.